sunday

Last Sunday, I decided that what I would like most would be to go for a hike.

And so, my dear family, wanting me to have a wonderful Mother’s Day, complied with this request.

Interestingly, it was also every other mother’s dream to go for a hike on Mother’s Day. And we waited while the rangers drove around to see if the park was full or not.

Adam snapped these fine photos while we waited in our vehicle pulled “as far to the right” as it could possibly be pulled. Those rangers are specific in their instruction.

Once we were admitted to the park (it really was that crowded!), we parked in the first spot we found and headed for the top of the trail.

And it was absolutely lovely, so much beauty in the wide open spaces.

There were kids at the top of rock formations…

And the ramshackle remains of a homestead long abandoned but fun to climb on…

And more kids at the top of rock formations…

But you must know that the real star of the show is always the stream, at which we arrived a mere two and half hours after we embarked and yet we all came away feeling that the effort made our time in the water very sweet, indeed…

That fresh flowing water felt good on tired, little feet which had travelled far to play in it’s gentle currents…

And on it’s banks…

And though I did ask myself a number of times on that hike why I had chosen this of all activities on Mother’s Day for I could have been at the spa…having a massage…and a pedicure…instead of up to my (very sore) ankles in dirt and bugs. And why had the ranger, who chatted us up nicely as we waited, noted that Mother’s Day is always the busiest day of the year?

And then I snapped this picture and I remembered exactly why we choose this activity on Mother’s Day. Because it puts on display some of the most wonderful aspects of the family. As I recall there was a very long, very sweet conversation on the subject of fairies and the fact that they wear acorn tops for helmets. There was also much oooh-ing and aaah-ing over the beauty all around us which led, deliciously, into reflection on The Creator and His creation. I witnessed much tenderness take place between my children as each one watched over the other, warning and helping each other over the hard spots. I got to hold each of my family’s hands at different intervals during the afternoon and I was presented with any number of priceless treasures along the way. I tripped once, right into the strong arms of my wonderful husband, and I liked that. A lot.

Yes, that is why mom’s like to go hiking on Mother’s Day, I think.*

At least that’s why I like to go…

*I suppose it is entirely possible that some mom’s simply love to hike…but that sounds a little crazy to me! 🙂

Mine was ever so lovely…beginning with a husband up early cooking delicious things, like egg, cheese, and green onion muffins in a bacon cup (that’s right, I said bacon cup!) and pancakes with caramel and bananas…

{Here’s where I would have put the photo

but that food was gone before it could be photographed}

Followed by two adorable kiddos, whispering and giggling and sneaking in and out of rooms and here’s what they emerged with…

A lovely bouquet picked from our own yard and a home made card…my favorite!

saturday

sunday

Mother’s Day is nearly upon us. Is it a fake holiday made up by the card companies and florists? Yes. It is.

But does it necessarily follow that there should be no Mother’s Day at all? Well, maybe. But I don’t know.

Maybe everyday is Mother’s Day. Kind of.

Everyday, we understand the gravity of what we hold in our hands. That when we hold our precious children we are really holding an immortal soul. Our work is so profoundly important because we are training what is eternal. Yes, eternal. Women really do have the awesome privilege of partnering with God to bring life into the world. It is astounding to me that we have been chosen for this.

This is our life’s work, everyday. Our magnum opus. Our great contribution to the world.

That if Ralph Waldo Emerson was right, that men (and women for that matter) are what their mother’s make them, then this job of making and guiding and shaping People is a profoundly important one.

It is not for the faint of heart. We know that everyday.

Our shortcomings are reflected in every frustrated tone, late morning, note home from school, and flare of temper and the pain is real and acute. But we are reminded of what C.S. Lewis says, that courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at its testing point. And we dry our eyes and march on.

Everyday we plead before the throne of grace for our children. For their protection, for the wisdom to bring them up well. For patience, (oh goodness, make that twice a day for patience!) and the knowledge that He will fill in all our cracks as we pour out.

The President reminded us that in South Korea teachers are called nation builders, and I agree, teachers are nation builders.

But everyday we are reminded that mothers are their children’s ultimate teachers. They may learn academically elsewhere, but the fashioning of their character is incumbent upon us. It may be up to the teachers (including homeschool mom/teachers) to help guide our sweet children into the fields of writing, and math and science but it will be up to us whether those writers will have integrity or our scientists will value life or whether any of them will care for and be faithful to their families, communities, the world.

I am able to write this because I have seen so many of you, everyday, living it around me. I see you at the park, at the library, in church. I have seen you in your car and in the schools and in the express lane at Target. You are family and friends.

You are heroes, imperfect, but heroes just the same.It does not do it justice to say it is a hard job. It is the hardest job. But the reward is eternal.

Much love to you all this Mother’s Day with many hopes for you all to get a nap (which is probably what you really want anyway)!

I was out last weekend with some friends, and it seemed that I kept seeing beet and goat cheese salads on various menus around town.

I’ll admit I had never tried that combination and it intrigued me…

Hello Goat!

Hello Beets!

Well, now that we’ve greeted everyone…

Beets and goat cheese are some of those oddball foods that people generally seem to either love or hate. If you love them, then this is definitely the post for you. If not, don’t worry, there will be other salads for you, I promise! Also, since you won’t be making this particular salad, you might want to pop over to this adorable King Arthur blog/recipe about making amazing banana fudge cookies instead.

So the pairing of the beets and the goat cheese, though not obvious (at least to me), are quite remarkable. Really, they are. The creamy, creamy pungency of the goat cheese and the earthy, corn-y (meaning they kind of taste like corn to me not that they tell bad jokes ) flavor of the beets just compliment each other. Really. They do.

Beet and Goat (Cheese) Salad

Easy, Serves 4-6

:: 1 large head of Romaine or 2 smaller ones

:: 2 large handfuls of Spring Mix lettuce (about 2-3 cups)

:: 6-8 steamed beets, peeled

:: 1 cup goat (cheese) crumbles

:: 1/2 cup candied pecans

:: 1 cup homemade vinaigrette or your favorite dressing

Slice each beet in half and then cut each half into fourths. In a large bowl, combine roughly chopped romaine with Spring mix or any of the the more bitter lettuces. Add dressing and toss. Add beets, cheese, and nuts. Okay, now give it a try…